Gridiron Bash Events Canceled at College Campuses

Gridiron Bash, a series of concerts and football promotions at 16 college campuses, has been canceled because of a dispute with the NCAA. Alan Jackson, Dwight Yoakam, Montgomery Gentry, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna, ZZ Top, Fergie, John Legend and Maroon 5 were among the acts scheduled to participate. The events, all scheduled the day before spring football games, were to include tailgating zones, a pep rally, a final team practice and a concert. MSL Sports and Entertainment, the company promoting the events, said the decision to postpone Gridiron Bash came after an NCAA interpretation that limited the participation of student athletes in promoting the events and receiving free tickets. According to the NCAA, MSL did not contact the NCAA regarding compliance until last week. Gridiron Bash was scheduled to begin Saturday (April 4) at LSU in Baton Rouge, La., with a concert featuring Kid Rock and Sara Evans. Other events were scheduled in Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.